LANDOWNER MEETING SET MAY 20-21 IN COLUMBIANA

The Alabama Regional Landowner Conference will be held May 20-21, 2016, at the beautiful Alabama 4H center in Columbiana, Alabama. This two day conference will feature a field tour on nearby Yellow Leaf Farm, a banquet to honor the 75th Anniversary of ATFS, as well as great keynote speakers, panel discussions, and breakout sessions.

gp to close two mills

Georgia-Pacific officials announced last week that the Crossett plywood mill in Arkansas is being closed permanently.

On April 7, the company announced that the Crossett plywood facility and another in Talladega, Ala. were both being permanently closed. Read more...

The newman's are outstanding south regional tree farmers

The story of Mike and Joan Newman, Alabama's 2014 Tree Farmers of the Year who were recently selected as the South Regional Tree Farmers of the Year, is a shining example of how good stewardship and management can result in a Tree Farm with multiple achievements and benefits. When the Newman’s purchased their property, the standing timber had been bought by a logger. The Newman’s practiced good stewardship by establishing and maintaining a Streamside Management Zone for erosion control, wildlife habitat, and aesthetics. PHOTO: Left to right, Nicholas Granger, Joan Newman, Mike Newman and Allen Varner, with their Tree Farm award and sign. Read more...

Help spread the word on tcw workshop

The Alabama Teachers Conservation Workshop (TCW) will be held at Auburn University, July 11-14, 2016.

The TCW program focuses on forest ecology, management, and products through guest speakers, field trips, and hands-on activities. Participants are trained in the Project Learning Tree curriculum and receive PLT materials.

bmp trail retirement demonstration set

A BMP Trail Retirement Demonstration will be held from 1-4 PM on May 12 in Lee County.

Participants can pick up 3 hours of PLM CE Credit for attending this demonstration which will feature a live water bar and broad-based dip installation. This demonstration is co-sponsored by the Extension Service and Auburn School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences. Read flyer for exact location...

usFWS will not designate critical habitat for endangered bat

Given the nature of the primary threats facing the species and the potential harm of publishing its hibernation locations, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has determined that designating critical habitat for the northern long-eared bat under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) is not prudent. The Service’s determination does not affect the bat’s threatened status, which it received in 2015 due to white-nose syndrome, a deadly fungal disease impacting cave-dwelling bats. Read more...

IN MEMORIAM: JUSTICE PERRY O. HOOPER

It is with sadness that we acknowledge the passing of former Alabama Chief Justice Perry O. Hooper, Sr.

Judge Hooper was elected Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court in 1994; the first Republican elected to the Alabama Supreme Court since Reconstruction. At the time, Alabama was known nationally as "tort hell" with plaintiff trial lawyers wresting huge judgments from Alabama businesses and companies.

Judge Hooper took on Sonny Hornsby, the incumbent Chief Justice and one of nine Democrats (no Republicans) on the high court at that time.

Today, largely because of Judge Hooper's successful challenge, there are now nine Republicans and no Democrats on the Alabama Supreme Court.

1,000 foot skyscraper proposed for london

A 300-metre (1000 feet) high wooden skyscraper has been proposed for central London by a team of architecture researchers from Cambridge University.

London mayor Boris Johnson is currently considering the project, with architects hoping to erect the 80-story timber building in the capital's Barbican complex—a residential area built during the 1960's and '70's. The skyscraper would apparently provide more than 1,000 new flats. Read more...

WOOD AND GLUE SKYSCRAPERS ON THE RISE

Thanks to advances in wood construction, the next generation of skyscraper might be made of spruce, not steel. Architects are designing wood buildings that ditch concrete and steel in favor of a more environmentally friendly material—one that could help fight climate change. Read more...

APA reports 1q production figures

North American structural panel production and apparent consumption rose 3.1% and 3.4% in the first quarter of 2016 vs. the fourth quarter of 2015, respectively, according to APA -- The Engineered Wood Association. Compared to the first quarter of 2015, structural panel production was up 4.1%, while apparent consumption rose 5.3%. OSB production increased 3.5% in the first quarter and apparent consumption increased 3.5%. Plywood production in North America increased 2.2%, while apparent consumption was up 3.3%. Compared to the fourth quarter of 2015, North America glulam production rose 7.6% in the first quarter of 2016. I-joist production increased 5.2% and LVL output was up 11.1%. On a year ago quarter basis, glulam production was up 8.9%, I-joist production increased 16.8% and LVL production rose 14.6%.

Online Tree Farm inspector training Refresher Course set

A full online training course for Tree Farm inspectors who have been trained to the 2010-2015 ATFS Standards, but have not performed an inspection or received training in the past two years, will be held on Thursday, May 19, 2016 from 12:00-4:00 PM CST.

prescribed fire training sessions set for 2016

Alabama Certified Prescribed Burn Manager certification courses and re-certification workshops have been set for July, August and September. Read more...

universal reports record earnings

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., April 20, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Universal Forest Products, Inc. (Nasdaq:UFPI) recently announced first-quarter net earnings attributable to controlling interest of $19.2 million, up 89 percent over the same period of 2015. Diluted earnings per share were $0.95, compared to $0.51 for the first quarter of 2015. Net sales for the first quarter were $682.2 million, up 7.8 percent over the first quarter of 2015. The net earnings and net sales results are first-quarter records for the Company. Read release...

F&w reports expansion

ALBANY, Ga., April 21, 2016 — F&W Forestry Services, Inc., one of the oldest and largest forest management and consulting firms in the U.S., announced today that it has acquired London-based O.C.S. Group Ltd.’s forestry and land subsidiaries. The acquisition includes three companies with forest management and real estate operations in North America and the United Kingdom. Read more...

Right on deadline the Longleaf District held its annual golf event in Brewton (on April 28). According to early reports, at least $28,000 was raised at that event. We'll have a more detailed account and photos in our next issue. Photos. In the right side picture, a Piedmont shooter breaks one of two clays that bounce off of a trampoline. In photo at left, little Ellie Schneider, granddaughter of CHIPS Center Director Deb Schneider, has a butterfly painted on her beautiful face!

Other events Include:

> Wiregrass District: Annual trail ride will take place near Abbeville on Saturday, April 30.

plm opportunities in alabama

Now is a GREAT time to earn PLM continuing education hours. Forestry field days and indoor course opportunities are listed on the AFA Calendar.
Get more info at: http://www.alaforestry.org/events/event_list.asp. New opportunities are constantly being added so check back often.

DON'T FORGET ABOUT FORESTRY BOOKS

We now have two books that you can use to learn more about forestland management and the history of the forest products industry in Alabama. These books make outstanding gifts for birthdays, Christmas and any other gift-giving purpose. The book on the left, Green Gold: Alabama's Forests and Forest Industries, provides the first comprehensive history of forestry in Alabama, from when the Indians cleared forests for agriculture to the modern era.

The book on the right, Managing Forests on Private Lands in Alabama and the Southeast, is probably the best book every produced on managing forests for timber production and for preserving water and wildlife resources.

If you are interested in owning either or both of these books, contact Liz Chambers at (334) 481-2135 or lchambers@alaforestry.org.